Background: After the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), “pandemic‐associated‐frailty” or profound health deterioration, in older adults has been considered a health concern. In this study, we sought to demonstrate whether pandemic‐associated‐frailty is occurring in Japan, where the population is aging, by showing the prevalence of frailty before and during the COVID‐19 outbreak, using the same method. Methods: A total of 5222 older adults in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, aged 70 and 75 were surveyed annually using a complete survey, excluding those who were certified as requiring long‐term care. Frailty during 2017–2019 before the COVID‐19 outbreak and during 2020–2021 during the COVID‐19 outbreak was determined using the Kihon Checklist (KCL). Statistical analysis was performed using the χ ² test to compare annual frailty status and Kruskal–Wallis test to compare the scores. Results: The frailty statuses over the five‐year period showed a significant decrease in Robust and a significant increase in Pre‐frailty and Frailty ( p < 0.001). Frailty increased markedly during the second year of the pandemic. Based on the category, the scores deteriorated significantly for activities of daily living ( p < 0.001), physical function ( p = 0.003), oral function ( p < 0.001), outdoor activity ( p < 0.001), and depression ( p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant deterioration in the total score for 25 items ( p < 0.001). In addition, a significant deterioration was observed in the total score of 23 items, excluding the social withdrawal affected by self‐restraint life ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: The population prevalence of frailty in older adults increased steadily from the pre‐pandemic year through the first and second years of the pandemic. Based on the 25 questions of the KCL, two aspects including visiting friends and going out less stood out. This suggests that pandemic‐associated‐frailty occurred in Japan.

This study investigated the relationship between eye frailty and physical, social, and psychological/cognitive weaknesses among older adults in Japan. The participants were 192 community-dwelling older adult women. We measured handgrip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass; additionally, their physical, social, and psychological/cognitive frailties were surveyed using questionnaires. Eye frailty self-checks were used to assess eye frailty. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to verify the validity of the eye frailty self-checks. Eye frailty prevalence and related factors were investigated by conducting a binomial logistic regression analysis, with eye frailty as the dependent variable. The factor analysis results showed that a model could be constructed with the two factors of visual acuity or contrast and visual field. The model’s goodness of fit was acceptable, supporting the validity of the self-checking construct. The Kihon checklist was the only variable with a significant relationship to eye frailty. Regarding the relationship between eye frailty and subordinate items of the Kihon checklist, social withdrawal [odds ratio (OR) 2.437, 95% confidence interval 1.145–5.188], cognitive function (OR 2.047, 95%CI 1.051–3.984), and depressed mood (OR 1.820, 95%CI 1.163–2.848) were significant. Eye frailty can be considered a factor reflecting the existence of social and psychological/cognitive frailties.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected the physical and mental functions in older adults, resulting in “corona-frailty”. This 2-year prospective study characterized changes in quantitative measures and corona-frailty among a cohort of community-dwelling older women. Changes were evaluated using face-to-face interactions with 39 Japanese women (mean age: 76.1 ± 5.9) in 2019 (pre-pandemic baseline) and 2021 (follow-up during the pandemic). Quantitative measurements of handgrip strength, walking speed, calf circumference, body composition, and background factors were evaluated. Body weight and trunk muscle mass significantly decreased at follow-up. Multiple regression analysis, using change in trunk muscle mass as the dependent variable and background factors as independent variables, identified that decrease in trunk muscle mass was associated with “being robust at baseline” and answering “Yes” to the question of “Do you go out less frequently compared with last year”? The 2-year trunk muscle mass change for each baseline frailty stage showed a significant decrease only in the robust group (−8.0%). The decrease in trunk muscle mass might be related to pandemic-induced lifestyle restraint, suggesting that robust older adults who are healthy and active should take measures that focus on trunk muscles to avoid “corona-frailty”.